The check is the mail for the Boothbay Region Clean Water Initiative. On March 21, Lincoln County commissioners approved the first installment of $65,000 to BRCWI to fund administrative costs. The non-profit organization is an amalgamation of  Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport, Boothbay Region Land Trust, Bigelow Laboratories, Boothbay Region Water District, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Knickerbocker Lake Association and Boothbay Region YMCA.

The organization’s goal is protecting Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake from further pollutant contamination by safeguarding the drinking water source’s watershed. Hal Moorefield is a Clean Water Initiative member. He wrote the letter last May seeking county American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. “These lakes supply 200 million gallons of water per year to the peninsula. Since 1989, the Maine DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) has designated these lakes as ‘Threatened’ due to ongoing human development and associated pollution.'”

BRCWI requested $195,000 in ARPA funding from the county commissioners. In an effort to safeguard the Boothbay region’s drinking water, the initiative sought county help in funding administrative costs with hopes of generating more grants. According to the initiative’s letter, the organization would receive $65,000 for three years funding 20 weeks of office staffing, contracting services (mapping, studies and plans), marketing materials, survey easement, attorney fees and land acquisition.  

On March 21, commissioners approved the first payment and County Administrator Carrie Kipfer reported the check would be sent the same week. 

In other action, County Emergency Management Agency Director Casey Stevens submitted his resignation. Stevens served six years in the job. Prior to his hiring, one director ran both emergency management and communications. Stevens was the first director whose responsibility was solely emergency management. “You will be missed,” Commissioner Hamilton Meserve said. “You did a great good in setting up the department.” Stevens’ new job will be as head of facilities, grounds and  transportation at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle. 

In his report, Stevens updated commissioners on how EMA reacted to the recent storm. He invited Central Maine Power account manager Patrick Voit to discuss how the county and power utility worked together in restoring power.. Stevens reported power outages were the longest in Bristol, South Bristol and the Boothbay region. “In coastal areas, high winds knocked down power lines and closed many roads. We stayed in good communication using our D4H (emergency response software) throughout the storm,” he said. “Snow plows kept the roads open so CMP could repair downed power lines.” 

Stevens announced a Preparedness Fair was scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 at Central Lincoln County YMCA. “It’s in conjunction with Healthy Kids and to educate the public on preparation using county resources during an emergency.”

Commissioners accepted Guardian Systems of Maine’s $29,729 bid to install a courthouse fire alarm system. Guardian was the low bidder. Other bids were $31,017 by Cunningham Security of Yarmouth and $59,989 by Seacoast Security of Rockport.  

Commissioners also authorized spending up to $13,000 from the unorganized territory account to repair a Hibberts Gore road. Kipfer reported the road needs between 374 and 740 yards of gravel. The road’s crown needs “digging out” because plow blades are hitting it. Shoulders need leveling and ditches’ vegetation along with winter run-off needs “cleaning out.” 

Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 4 in the courthouse.